Device for gastro-intestinal fluids



y 1967 M. SHiNER 3,319,622

DEVICE FOR GASTRO-INTESTINAL FLUIDS Filed Dec. 26, 1963 United States Patent 3,319,622 DEVICE FOR GASTRS-INTESTINAL FLUKDS Margot Shiner, London, England, assignor to National Research Development Corporation, London, England,

a British corporation Filed Dec. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 333,399 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Jan. 4, 1963, 574/63 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-2) This invention relates to an improved gastro-intestinal sampling device and in particular is concerned with an improved device for obtaining samples of gastro-intestinal fiuid free from any form of contamination.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved gastro-intestinal fluid sampling device which is small in size, relatively simple to operate and which is able to obtain a fluid sample from a chosen site within the stomach or intestine in the state in which its exists, i.e. free from any other possible form of contamination.

According to the invention there is provided a gastrointestinal fluid sampling device which consists of a hollow capsule with a sealed sampling port thereinto and comprising a cylinder part with a piston part therein adapted to move relatively to each other against pressure of spring means, said piston part being arranged to move to unseal and to open and close said port and said spring means being arranged to bias said parts so as normally to seal said port, said capsule having a passage to said cylinder part for connection to a tubular line whereby suction may be applied to the cylinder part to cause said relative movement between the two said parts for unsealing and opening said sampling port when the capsule is in its sampling position to permit of acces sof a sample of the fluid to the capsule said port being arranged to close and preferably seal again upon change of the suction.

According to one embodiment of the invention there is provided a gastro-intestinal fluid sampling device which comprises a hollow capsule having a cylindrical bore the distal part of which capsule tapers to form a nose cap and which is detachable, a movable member longitudinally located in said bore the distal part of which mem-. ber being adapted for connection to said cap and so dimensioned as to occupy only a small part of the bore of the capsule, the proximal part thereof being so dimensioned as to form a piston having a sliding sealing fit within said bore, a spring member located in the distal part of the bore of the capsule and contained therein at its distal end by an inwardly depending extension of the internal wall of the capsule and at its proximal end by said piston and adapted by exerting a pressure on said piston to retain the cap when in connection with the movable member in the closed and sealing position said movable member being apertured axially which aperture communicates at the distal end thereof via a port with the bore of the capsule and at the proximal end thereof via a tubular line with an external source of suction and which member is adapted by connection to said source to allow a reduction in the internal pressure of the capsule suflicient to overcome the retaining spring pressure whereby the nose cap is displaced from the capsule and a fluid sample is admitted thereto, whereupon a consequent increase in internal pressure allows the spring member to return the nose cap to its normal closure and sealing position.

In one form of a fluid sampling device in accordance with the invention the capsule is a hollow bull-nosed device. The capsule has a hollow cylindrical bore of uniform cross-section and at the distal end of the capsule the said bore is restricted by an inwardly depending extension of the wall of the capsule, which restriction serves as a stop for a coil spring positioned within the bore. The coil spring is contained within the bore at its proximal "ice end by means of a piston longitudinally positioned within the bore and forming a sliding sealing fit therein said piston having at its distal end a connecting member which extends through the coil spring and through the said restriction in which it is a sliding and sealing fit, to engage a bull-nosed cap which retains the piston within the bore. The distal connecting member has a channel in the surface thereof and located to coincide with the restriction provided by the distal wall of the capsule such that when the connecting member is moved distally displacing the nose cap from the capsule the said channel communicates the medium external to the capsule with the internal bore of the capsule. The piston is provided with a proximal connecting member extending from the capsule, both piston and connecting member being apertured axially, said aperture communicating at its distal end via a port with the bore of the capsule and at its proximal end via tubular line with an external source of suction. When the internal pressure of the capsule is reduced relative movement between the piston and the capsule body against pressure of the said spring occurs and the space in the capsule is connected with the environment immediately external to the capsule and a fluid sample may be admitted thereto. A consequent rise in internal pressure due to admission of the fluid sample allows the spring to return the nose cap to its normal closure and sealing position.

The piston connecting member external to the capsule is connected to a source of suction, for example, a vacuum pump, preferably by means of flexible tubing, for example, flexible plastic tubing. It is also desirable that the flexible tubing can be observed visually when internally of the patient and in connection with the capsule. To this end it is found convenient that either the material comprising the tubing consists of or contains a radio opaque material or that the tubing is marked with a radio opaque substance, such that its passage internally of the patient can be followed by, for example, a fluoroscope. Furthermore if markings are desired it is advantageous that the markings are made at predetermined intervals in a characteristic manner such that the exact position of the capsule within the patient with regard to a particular organ can be ascertained.

In certain cases in which it is required to use the sampling device in accordance with the invention, it may be desirable that a more rigid form of tubing be used for connection of the piston member externally of the capsule to a source of suction. When a more rigid form of tubing is used it may also be found convenient to threadably engage the distal end of the tubing to the proximal part of the piston connecting member, in order that a more rigid connection is made and further to provide a more positive means of guiding the capsule in its passage internally of the patient.

In order to facilitate the operation of producing a suction or vacuum within the capsule a non-return valve may preferably be connected in the flexible tubing line between the capsule and the source of suction.

It will be appreciated that one object of the invention is that of obtaining a sample of fluid from any part of the gastro-intestinal tract of a patient for culture purposes, which sample is free from any form of contamination other than that which is existing at the site from which the sample is taken. For this object to be achieved the capsule must be easily sterilizable and the material from which it is made must not be subject to any form of surface contamination for example occlusion or corrosion, and in one embodiment of the invention the capsule is comprised of stainless steel the outer surface of which is polished to produce a smooth and attrition free surface.

In order to ensure that the interior of the capsule is not aflfected by the entry of contaminant material during sure is maintained within the capsule.

its passage in the intestine to the site at which the sample is to be taken, it is found preferable that a positive pres- This internal positive pressure may be provided by fluid means, the fluid therefore is of necessity rendered sterile before use in the capsule. "It may be found desirable in order further to prevent entry of contaminant material into the capsule to coat the external surface of the capsule in the closed position with a bactericidal paint.

Another object of the invention is that of the use of the 'gasto-intestinal fluid sampling device for aspiring fluid samples from the gastro-intestinal tract for purposes other than that of providing culture media, for example, for providing fluid samples for enzymes studies and pH studies.

One embodiment of the invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation in section of a capsule in a closed position as for introduction into the intestine of a patient, and

FIGURE 2 shows a side elevation in section of a capsule in an open position for admission of a fluid sample when positioned internally of the patient.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 there is shown a capsule 1 which comprises a bull-nosed body 2 having a hollow bore 3, the distal part 4 thereof being of smaller diameter than that of the remainder of the bore 3. The distal part of the capsule 1 comprises a bull-nosed cap 5, the internal surface thereof being connected to the distal end 6 of a longitudinal member 7. A proximal portion of the memher 7 is of diameter such as to form a piston 8 having a slidable sealing fit within the walls of the body 2 surrounding the bore 3. There is thus defined between the piston 8, the member 7 and the annular neck portion 9 of the body 2, an annular space 10 which serves as a reservoir for the intestinal fluid sample. Positioned withinthis space 10 is a coil spring 11 which surrounds the longitudinal member 7 and is contained at its proximal end by the distal end surface of the piston 8. The longitudinal member '7 continues through 8 to form an extended portion 12, the central part of which is apertured and which apertrue 13 communicates the space 10 via a port 14 in the member 7 with an external source of suction (not shown) when in connection with the extended portion 12.

i A part of the surface of the member 7 located within the annular neck portion 9 is channelled and this channel 15 serves when the member 7 is in the position as shown in FIGURE 2 as a port or communication between the space 10 and the environment immediately external to the capsule. All the components on the capsule 1 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 are comprised of stainless steel.

In the operation of the device for the obtaining of an intestinal fluid sample, the capsule is first sterilised and if desired coated with a bactericidal paint, the extended portion 12 connected to a length of flexible tubing (not shown) and the capsule is inserted in place within the intestine. The flexible tubing is connected to a source of suction, and at this stage the pressure in the space 10 is either at normal atmospheric pressure or super atmospheric pressure and the components of the capsule 1 are in the position as shown in FIGURE 1. The pressure within the space 10 is then reduced and as a result of the increase in suction relative movement occurs between the member 7 and the body 2 and the bull-nosed cap 5 is displaced from its sealing position and a sample of fluid enters the space 10 by way "of the channelled port 15. The suction within the space 10 may then be reduced enabling the spring 11 to exert a pressure against the containing faces of the piston 8 and of the body 2 and relative movement again occurs between the member 7 and the body 2 which movement brings the bull-nosed cap 5 into its closure and sealing position. A sample of the gastro-intestinal fluid devoid of any form of contamination other than that which exists in the site from which it is taken is thus contained within the capsule 1 which is removed from the intestine for sample analysis, enzymes studies or culture purposes.

I claim:

1. A gastro-intestinal fluid sampling device which comprises a hollow capsule having a cylindrical bore, the distal part of which capsule tapers to form a nose cap, and which is detachable, a movable member longitudinally located in said bore, the distal part of said movable member being adapted for connection to said cap and so dimensionedas to occupy only a small part of the bore of the capsule, the proximal part thereof being so dimensioned as to form a piston having a slidable sealing fit within said bore, a spring located in the distal part of the bore of the capsule and contained therein at the distal end by an inwardly depending extension of the internal wall of the capsule and at the proximal end by said piston and adapted by exerting a pressure on said piston to retain the cap, when in connection with the movable member,in the closed and sealing position, said movable member being apertured axially, which aperture communicates at the distal end thereof via a port with the bore of the capsule and at the proximal end thereof is adapted to communicate via a tubular line with an external source of suction and which member is adapted by connection to said source to allow a reduction in the internal pressure of the capsule sufficient to overcome the retaining spring pressure whereby the nose cap is displaced from the capsule and a fluid sample is admitted thereto, whereupon an increase in internal pressure causes the spring to return the nose cap to its normal closure and sealing position.

2. A gastro-intestinal fluid sampling device according to claim 1 wherein the distal part of the movable member comprises a member connecting the said piston with the said nose cap and so dimensioned as to form a slidable sealing fit within the restriction provided by the inwardly depending extension of the internal wall of the capsule, said connecting member having a channel in the surface thereof and so located as to coincide with said restriction such that when the connecting member is moved distally displacing the nose cap from the capsule the said channel communicates the medium externally of the capsule with the internal bore of the capsule.

3. A sampling device for obtaining specimens of gastrointestinal fluid which comprises in combination, a hollow capsule the distal end of which is apertured to form a sampling port, at least part of the space internally of the capsule having a cylindrical bore, a movable cap for closure and sealing of the sampling port, a piston lo: cated in said bore and having a slidable sealing fit therein, a distal extension member of the piston connecting the closure cap thereto, said piston being apertured for communication of the space internally of the capsule with the proximal end of the piston, a spring located in said bore between the piston and the closure cap opposing movement of the piston relative to the capsule and biased normally to retain the closure cap in the sealing position, and a tubular proximal extension of the piston for connecting the aperture in said piston with a line whereby suction may be applied to the capsule to cause said relative movement between the piston and the capsule against the bias of said spring for unsealing and opening the sampling port to permit access of fluid sample to the cap sule, and said closure cap will be biased by said spring to close and seal said sampling port'upon reduction of suction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,118,439 1/1964 Perrenoud 1282 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. S. BRODER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A GASTRO-INTESTINAL FLUID SAMPLING DEVICE WHICH COMPRISES A HOLLOW CAPSULE HAVING A CYLINDRICAL BORE, THE DISTAL PART OF WHICH CAPSULE TAPERS TO FORM A NOSE CAP, AND WHICH IS DETACHABLE, A MOVABLE MEMBER LONGITUDINALLY LOCATED IN SAID BORE, THE DISTAL PART OF SAID MOVABLE MEMBER BEING ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO SAID CAP AND SO DIMENSIONED AS TO OCCUPY ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE BORE OF THE CAPSULE, THE PROXIMAL PART THEREOF BEING SO DIMENSIONED AS TO FORM A PISTON HAVING A SLIDABLE SEALING FIT WITHIN SAID BORE, A SPRING LOCATED IN THE DISTAL PART OF THE BORE OF THE CAPSULE AND CONTAINED THEREIN AT THE DISTAL END BY AN INWARDLY DEPENDING EXTENSION OF THE INTERNAL WALL OF THE CAPSULE AND AT THE PROXIMAL END BY SAID PISTON AND ADAPTED BY EXERTING A PRESSURE ON SAID PISTON TO RETAIN THE CAP, WHEN IN CONNECTION WITH THE MOVABLE MEMBER, IN THE CLOSED AND SEALING POSITION, SAID MOVABLE MEMBER BEING APERTURED AXIALLY, WHICH APERTURE COMMUNICATES AT THE DISTAL END THEREOF VIA A PORT WITH THE BORE OF THE CAPSULE AND AT THE PROXIMAL END THEREOF IS ADAPTED TO COMMUNICATE VIA A TUBULAR LINE WITH AN EXTERNAL SOURCE OF SUCTION AND WHICH MEMBER IS ADAPTED BY CONNECTION TO SAID SOURCE TO ALLOW A REDUCTION IN THE INTERNAL PRESSURE OF THE CAPSULE SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE RETAINING SPRING PRESSURE WHEREBY THE NOSE CAP IS DISPLACED FROM THE CAPSULE AND A FLUID SAMPLE IS ADMITTED THERETO, WHEREUPON AN INCREASE IN INTERNAL PRESSURE CAUSES THE SPRING TO RETURN THE NOSE CAP TO ITS NORMAL CLOSURE AND SEALING POSITION. 